Reading stand



May 4, 1954 F. J. LUKETA 2,677,211

READING STAND Filed sept. so, 195o 2 sheets-sheet 1 I/l v//Al l1.

s: s 111,111,11"- y, l

May 4 1954 F. J. LUKETA 2,677,211'

HEADING STAND Filed sept. 3o. 195o av'sheets-sheet 2 9 JNVENToR.

FRAN/c J .4u/fm A fro/ewe- V5' Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE READING STAND Frank J. Luketa, Seattle, Wash.

Application September 30, 1950, Serial No. 187,719

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a reading stand, particularly one which isespecially designed for use with, and to accommodate the variousconditions found in a chair of the general type shown in various of myissued patents and pending applications, and which is characterized bythe provision of a seat and a back, each independently tiltable about atransverse horizontal axis to various reclining or upright positions.Such a chair is shown, for example, in my Design application Serial No.D. 8,181, led February 28, 1950. A reading stand of similar nature isshown in my copending application Serial No. 173,704, filed July11,1950.

Since the reading stand should support the reading matter directly infront of, that is, in the line of vision of the occupant of such chair,yet in such position it will be directly in his way should he attempt toarise from the chair, it is an object of the present invention toprovide a mount for the reading stand swingable aside on a more or lessupright axis, so that the reading stand may be supported generally fromthe side arm, which usually tilts with the chairs back, be located inoperative or reading position directly in line with the occupants lineof vision, and yet may be swung Wholly aside out of the way to permitthe occupant to arise from the seat.

In a chair of this sort the side arms tilt with one of the mainbody-supporting elements, usually the back, and the reading stand issupported on one of the side arms, hence tilts with the latter. If theangular disposition and spacing of the reading stand relative to theeyes of the chairs occupant are correct when the back is comfortablyupright, tilting the back farther towards the reclining position willsoon dispose the reading stand overhead, in position where the book orother reading matter tends to fall onto the readers face. It iscustomary to provide retaining means for the reading matter, to hold itto its stand, but this is not intended as the major support for thereading matter, nor is such a nearly vertical line of sight desirable,if it can be avoided, from the standpoint of visual comfort. Because ofsuch factors, and because of changes in distance and attitude of thehead which arise from adjustment of the chairs elements, it is desirableto provide for compensatory adjustments of the distance, attitude, andangle of the reading stand, relative to the chair elements. Theprovision of a mount capable of adjustment about an axis or axesparallel to the axis of tilting adjustment of the chair element thatsupports it (and not coincident with the axis of tilting adjustment, asin Ser. No. 173,074), to the ends indicated, is an object of thisinvention. By these means the line of vision can be kept more nearlyhorizontal, the distance from the eyes can be kept that which is mostcomfortable, and the reading matter can be kept resting upon the readingstands back, notwithstanding tilting of the chairs back far back fromthe normal upright position.

Likewise, where the reading stand is of the type that can be swungaside, it is an object to provide means to retain it positively againstsuch swinging when `it is somewhat overbalanced by tilting of parts to areclining position, yet by means readily disengaged when it is desiredto swing the reading stand aside.

It is desirable to provide illumination for the reading matter supportedupon such a stand, which is usually done by the provision of a lampbracket located in front of the stand to illuminate the reading matterplaced upon the stand, and because of the various adjustments oftheposition or attitude of the stand, it is desirable, also, to adjust theilluminating bracket correspond- L ingly, and so that it will not lie inthe line of vision, and the provision of a structure to this end is anobject of this invention.

It is desirable that such a reading stand be removably mounted andseparable into smaller units so that it may be taken down and storedaway when its use is not desired. The provision of simple dismountingmeans is one of the objects of this invention, and particularly of suchmeans which will permit the reading stand to occupy a rather smallspace, notwithstanding its rather extended size when operative. Likewiseit is an object to provide complemental contact elements in theseparable parts of the reading stand, which will interengageautomatically by the correct setting up of the stand, and which willaccommodate the relative movements for different adjustments of theparts of the stand.

A still further object is the provision of means for assembling thestand in a way which makes it convenient for access to the interiorthereof, and particularly to the contact elements, in the event anychange of adjustment is necessary.

It is also an object to provide a mount for support in an element of thechair itself which will have the capability of adjustment to variouspositions and which will yet be concealed so that the appearance of thechair is not marred. Additionally, since such a mount incorporates anupwardly open socket, it is an object to provide such mount of this sortwhich is constructed in 3 such a way that any foreign matter which mayenter the socket may fall or be pushed on through, and will notinterfere with the proper assembly of the parts of the stand, nor withthe electrical contact elements incorporated in the stand, one setwhereof is within the socket.

One further object is the provision of an assembly for the page retainerof the reading stand which will permit ready access to the interiorthereof roi' repair of a broken spring, for example.

Other objects will appear as this specification progresses.

In the accompanying drawings, the invention is shown in a typical form,such as is presently preferred by me.

Figure 1 is a general side elevational view of such a chair, showing thereading stand of the present invention supported thereon and in oneposition of adjustment relative to the same.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but with parts of the side armof the chair broken away and shown in section, with the seat and backelements of the chair omitted, and with the reading stand in a positionof adjustment somewhat different from that shown in Figure l.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of one side of the same parts shown inFigure 1, but illustrating only the socket for the reception of thereading stand, and the stand itself removed from the socket.

Figure 4 is an interior side elevation, with parts broken away and shownin section, illustrating the construction of the oscillatable mount inthe side arm of -the chair for the upright post of the reading stand,and Figure 5 is in general an axial section through the same, theviewpoint being at right angles to that of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is in general a view from the viewpoint illustrated at 6 6 ofFigure 4, but showing the socket sectioned.

Figure 7 is in general an axial section along the lateral supporting aimfor the stand, showing the interengagement between the stand itself andits supporting arm.

Figure 8 is a sectional view substantially as shown at 8*--8 in Figure7.

Figure 9 is an exploded isometric view with parts broken away and shownin section, illustrating the relationship between the parts of the standand its lateral supporting arm.

Figure l0 is an axial sectional View vthrough a detail of the standitself.

Figure 11 is an elevation of the reading stand back and its lamp, fromthe viewpoint of the chairs occupant.

The chair of the present invention includes two main body-supportingelements, a seat I, and a back 2, each of which is independentlytiltable about a transverse axis A upon a support (not shown) on thefloor-engaging frame structure 3, from a nearly horizontal position to anearly upright position. A side arm 29 is ordinarily secured to tiltwith the back 2. The chair may also incorporate a legrest 4 and aheadrest 5, each of which is movable relative to the mainbody-supporting element with which it is associated into variouspositions by means not shown. Various structures to such ends areillustrated in my several copending applications on the chair per se,and in my issued patents.

The structure of the stand per se is subject to some variation, so faras concerns the remainder of this invention. It is shown as consistingof a circular back 6 having a series of transverse bars 60, the wholeconstituting a rest for the reading matter. The circular back 6terminates at its lower end in bifurcated and apertured ears 6l, wherebyit is supported, or mounted, by a structure which will be described indetail hereinafter, upon the horizontal arm 1l of a support whichincludes also an upright post 1. The lower end of this post 1 isreceived in a socket 21 directed radially of an annular mount 28, whichis received in a rotative bearing in the side arm 29, for tilting aboutan axis defined at 26 by the mounting screws which connect the annularmember 28, or the socket 21 thereof, to the side plates 25 of thebearing element. The annular member is apertured at 28a and the socketis apertured at 21a, for purposes which will be described hereinafter.Lugs 23, by engaging screw stops 22, limit tilting about the pivot at26, and springs 2l produce inward pressure on the side plates 25, toretain the mount 28 normally in any intermediate position of adjustment.

The post 1 is removably mounted, and its mount permits rotation aboutthe axis of the post, radially of the axis at 26, as well as tiltingabout the axis at 26. However, for the purpose of retaining the postagainst undesired rotation about the radial axis, the lower end of thepost is notched, as indicated at 12, and the sides of these notchesstraddle a positioning lug 24, projecting within the socket 21.Disengagement, preparatory to rotation of the post, is radiallyaccomplished by slight outward withdrawal of the notched end from thelug 24, while still retaining the post in the socket 21.

It will be observed that the entire reading l stand, including themounting post 1, tilts bodily with tilting of the chair side arm 29about the axis A, and in addition the annular mount 28, the post 1 whichis supported in its socket, and the stand 6 which is supported at theouter end of the post, all may tilt bodily about the axis defined at 2B,which axis is radially offset upwardly from the tilting axis A, and notcoincident with the axis A, as is the case in Serial No. 173,074.Additionally, the lateral arm 1I may be swung aside by lifting the notch12 from the positio'ning lug 24, and then rotating the post 1 to a newposition, usually a position 96 removed from its operative position,wherein, in the swung-aside position, the occupant may arise from thechair without interference from the reading stand.

In addition, the ring 6 and associated elements may be rotated about thelateral axis of the arm 1l; compare, for example, Figures 1 and 2. Thelamp 8, which illuminates the reading matter on the stand, is supportedupon the end of a bracket arm which, at its inner end, is apertured at8l so that, received between the furcations 6i, this bracket and thestand back 6 are received upon the end of the arm 1| for conjointrotation, or may be rotated each independently of the other.

The detailed structure at this point is shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9. Oneof the objectives in this particular structure chosen is ease ofdisassembly when desired, and of reassembly, coupled with ease ofadjustment and freedom from the likelihood of accidental disassemblyduring adjustment. In these views the end of the horizontal arm 1Ireceives within it a separate tubular connecting member 13 which extendsthrough the apertures in the bifurcated ears 6| of the stand, and whichis secured at 14 to a. cap 62 which is in effect a part of one of theears 6l, so that cap 62 and member 13 rotate together relative to thearm 1l. inconspicuous, yet readily removable, but when so engaged and solong as the tubular connector '13 is held to the arm 1I, disengagementof the parts is prevented. The connector 'i3 is held to the arm 1|, yetpermits rotation about the axis of the arm H of the stand 6 by means ofthe spring-pressed button received in some one of the circumferentiallyspaced holes 76 in the arm 1I. By pressing the button 'l5 inwardly, itsrounded projecting end will ride lengthwise within the end of the arm'Il to permit disengagement of the connector 13.

The connector 'i3 likewise holds the bracket arm 8B in place, andpermits angular adjustment of the latter relative to the stand back 6,against frictional resistance between the bracket 80 and the ears 6|.The interengagement between the bracket arm 80 and the connector 13 isby means of the bayonet slot 11 entering from the end of the connector'13, and the complementally shaped lug 82 within the aperture 8| of thebracket arm 80. This enables disassembly of the bracket arm 80 from thestand when required, but normally retains them assembled so long as theset screw 'I4 remains in place. Disassembly for storage merely requiresremoval of connector 13` from arm 1i.

Electrical leads 9 lead from a source through the interior of the chairsside arm 29 to a male dielectric member 90, projecting within the lowerend of the socket 2T. Part-cylindrical terminals Sla and Sib lie atopposite sides of the member 90, for engagement by jack elements 92a and92h, mounted in a dielectric mount 93 which is secured within the end ofpost 1, and thence leads run through the hollow post and its lateral armIl to the end of the latter. Such a mount permits rotation of the post'I about its axis while still retaining correct engagement of thecontacts Sla and 92a, Sib and B2b in all operative positions of thereading stand, yet by virtue of the dielectric material between them andits location relative to the contacts 92a and 92h, whenever the readingstand is swung aside to permit the chairs occupant to arise, thearrangement is such that the circuit is interrupted and the lamp at 8will not stay lit.

At the outer end of the arm 1| the electrical leads engagespring-contact elements 93a and S319, mounted in the dielectric element94 which is secured within the end of the arm 1l. There they are inposition to enter and make contact with the interior walls ofcomplemental part-cylindrical contact elements 95a, and 95h (see Figure7) in the dielectric block 96 which is secured within the end of thetubular connector 13. Thence the leads run through the tubular connectorat 'I3 and the hollow bracket arm at 8B, to the lamp at 8. By theconstruction just described, the stand 6 and its connected parts mayreadily be disassembled from the arm 'H and may be rotated about theaxis of the arm 1| while still maintaining contact, and upon reassemblyafter disassembly, the whole ts together in the proper manner. All wiresare concealed.

One of the transverse elements 60 of the reading stand itself preferablyincorporates spring means connected to a retainer cord 6I by which abook B, or similar reading matter, may be held to the reading stand. Thecord 6| may be a small steel cable or wire, its ends passing through thegrommet 62 in an outward extension 63 at each end of the element 60. Thesprings 64, which The set screw at 'I4 is connect to the opposite endsof the cable 6|, are received wholly within the member 63, and thelatter has a reduced end 64 which is received within the end of thiselement B0, and is secured therein by the set screw 66. The latter isinconspicuous and yet by its removal the member B3, 65 may be removedfrom the end of the transverse element 60 for repair of a broken spring,for instance, or for replacement of a broken cord 6|.

The entire arrangement is a neat and convenient one, readily taken apartwherever this may become necessary, for inspection, repair or for simpledisassembly into more compact compass, for storage. The electricalconnections are automatically and properly made by correct assembly ofthe parts, and are well protected against accidental short-circuiting.Even the male contact element Bil is so constructed that it is virtuallyimpossible to contact both the terminals Sla and Sib by a nail orhairpin thoughtlessly stuck into the end of the socket 21. Should anyforeign matter be pushed into the socket, the latter is open at itslower end at 21a, and such matter will fall through, or can readily bepushed through,

and once inside the annular member 28, it will still fall on through theaperture 28a in the bottom of the annular member 28, and thus cannotobstruct proper operation of the parts of the reading stand mount northe electrical contacts thereof.

' I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a lateral arm, a stand for the support of readingmatter having a Ibifurcated mounting ear apertured for the reception ofsaid arm, for oscillation of the support, a lampsupporting bracketlikewise apertured at one end for the reception of and oscillation aboutsaid arm, to be thereby held' between the furcations of the stands ear,a bayonet slot in said arm, and a complemental lug on the bracket, torestrain axial movement of the bracket, and hence oi the support, andmeans removably engaged between the stands ear and the arm to retain thestand against movement axially relative to the arm.

2. The combination of claim l, including a tube on the arm interposedbetween the stand and the bracket, and the arm, and oscillatably mountedin the arm, and latching means interengageable between the tube and thearm to retain the tube, and hence the stand, in any one of severaloscillated positions.

3. The combination of claim 2, including complemental contact members,one on the arm, and the other carried by the tube and leading to thebracket-supported lamp, interengageable for operation when the stand,tube, and arm are operatively connected, said contact members beingrelatively oscillatable while so engaged, to allow adjustment of thestand about the arms axis.

4. In a reading stand, in combination with an upright back for thesupport of reading matter, and with a generally horizontal supportingarm whereon said back is supported for rotation, means for so supportingthe back upon the arm including an ear on the back and a connectorspindle rotatively mounted upon the arms terminus, and iixed to saidear, a latch xed upon one or the other of the connector or the arm, anda plurality of angularly spaced complemental latchengaging means formedupon the other, and positioned to engage the latch to hold the back inany of a plurality of positions rotated about said arm, and a bracketarm mounted on said connec- 7 tor spindle, alongside said ear, forrotation with and also independently of said back.

5. In a reading stand, in combination with an upright back for thesupport of reading matter, and with a generally horizontal supportingarm Whereon said back is supported for rotation, means for so supportingthe back upon the arm including a pair of spaced apertured ears on theback and a connector spindle rotatively mounted upon the arms terminus,whereon said ears are slidably and rotatably mounted, means to fix saidback to said connector, cooperative latching means upon the connectorand arm, respectively, interengageable in a plurality of angularlyspaced positions for the support of the back in the severalcorresponding positions of adjustment, a bracket arm slidable along andpivotally supported on said connector spindle, intermediate said ears, akey formed on said bracket arm, and a bayonet slot formed in theconnector spindle, wherein said key is received, to permit rotation ofthe bracket arm with and also relative to the back, provided the key isWithin the circumferential extent of the bayonet slot.

6. In a reading stand, in combination with an upright back for thesupport of reading matter, and with a generally horizontal supportingarm whereon said back is supported for rotation, means for so supportingthe back upon the arm including a connector spindle projecting from theback and rotatively and longitudinally slidably engaged With theterminus of said arm, latching means upon the connector and cooperatinglatching means upon the arm, respectively, one whereof includes elementsarranged in a circumferential line, said latching means beinginterengageable Whenever they are in longitudinal registry, in aplurality of angularly spaced positions for the support of the back inthe several corresponding positions of adjustment, electrical terminalscarried by the arm, and cooperating terminals carried by the connectorspindle in position to engage the respective armmounted terminals in anyrotated position Within the limits of the backs adjustment, and so longas the cooperative latching means are in longitudinal registry, but todisengage upon 1ongitudinal movement of the connector spindle fromlatch-engaging position, and a light in circuit with theconnector-mounted terminals, and supported in position to illuminatereading matter supported by said back.

7. The combination of claim 6, including a bracket arm rotatively andslidably mounted upon the connector spindle and operatively connectedfor movement with the back, longitudinally of the connector, the lightbeing carried by said bracket arm, a key formed on said bracket arm anda bayonet slot formed in said connector spindle, wherein said key isreceived, the circumferential extent of said bayonet slot being locatedto permit rotative movement of the bracket arm only when the cooperativelatching means are longitudinally in interengaging position.

8. In a reading stand, in combination with an upright back for thesupport of reading matter, and with a generally horizontal arm whereonsaid back is supported, a connector rotatively mounted upon andprojecting from the terminus of said arm, mounting means formed on saidback and slidably received upon said connector, means to secure saidmounting means to said connector, a latch fixed upon the connector, anda plurality of angularly spaced latch-engaging means formed upon the armand positioned to engage the latch to hold the back in any of aplurality of positions rotated angularly about said supporting arm.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 546,570 Young Sept. 17, 1895 564,044 Berkerneyer July 14, 18961,347,645 Manny July 27, 1920 1,910,505 Shaw May 23, 1933 1,963,887 CoeJune 19, 1934 2,480,233 Fuller Aug, 30, 1949

